Drag-box.



E. B. STONE.-

DBAG BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1913.

V Patented Oct. 6; 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@244; INVENTOR.

M 1 4/4 4 %TORNEY.

WIZNESSES:

M km

E. B. STONE.

DRAG BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2,1913.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' TTORNEY.

- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMEJR ngs'ronn, or. as wnnrrnm, comvnorron'r, ASSIGNOR To one AMERICAN HARDWARE conclusion, or NEW smram, comorrcor, A oonrom'rron or DRAG-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

Application filed April 2, 1918. Serial No. 758,305.-

' To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, B. S'noxn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invent-ed a 5 new and Improved Drag-Box, of which the following is a specification.

an under box may be readily displayed and this without danger of the boxes sliding from'the pile as they are being moved.

Forms of drag boxes embodying my in-.

vention, and in the construction and use of which the objects herein mentioned, as well as others, may be attained, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,jin which- Figure 1 is ap'erspective view of a drag box embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a viewin'cros's section through the same; Fig. 3 is a view showing one manner of piling the boxesfone on top of the other; Figm. 4, 5, and '6, "are detail views showing modified forms of construction; and Figs." 7 and 8 show respectively in plan and section a box embodyingia'nothermodification of the invention', Fig. 9is aperspectiye view showing a drag box or receptacle embodying still another modification of the. invention. 10 is a detail view showing a part of a box embodying still another slightly modified form of construction.

A drag -box or receptacle containingm'y invention enables an extremel strong receptacle to be made in an effective and co ncmical manner and having neans which will enable them to be formed into piles of extreme rigidity and of practically any size with little'danger of falling.

This improved box or receptacle has a bottom and an 'upperedge provided in any suitable manner registering intercogaglng recesses and rojecti'ons arranged to permit the piling o the receptacles crosstion herein.

wise and lengthwise each of another in an endless variety of ways. The upper edges ofthe boxes or receptacles may be provided in any suitable manner with the lugs or recesses, either or-both, and ivhen the sides are of comparatively thin material the u per edge may be formed to the desired thic ness in-any suitable manner. a

While my invention is not confined to an article having thin sides and thick upper edges, as my invention finds ready adaptation in such a structure I have selected such for the purpose of disclosure of my inven The drawings show the box preferably constructed, as to its sides and ends, of

single piece of metal cut. and bent to form the box in any well known manner.. The upper edges of the sides 8 of the box are constructed of a width constituting ledges 9 extending lengthwise of the box and having lengthwiserecesses-or grooves 10 of a 11. disposed lengthwise of the box on the botldges 9, so long as desired width is obtained, is immaterial, in a preferred form of structure shown herein they are composed of metal of substantially the same thickness as that of the box, the structure illustrated especially in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, having the ledges formed from the same piece of metal as that composing the sides, while in the structure shown in Fig. 5 they are composed of a separate piece of metal. These ledges may be strengthened or braced if such shall be required, by extending the metal and firmly supporting its lower end. As shown, the metal is extended obliquely downward, as at 32, until it contacts with the side of the box, and a short extension 33 alon the surface of the box may reoeiverivets y means of which the brace is secured in place. The grooves or indentations in the le ge may be formed by bending o'r indenting the metal.

; A number of boxes or receptacles thus constructed may be filled to the rim and piled one u on the top of another, the ribs or projecti'ons llof an upper box belng located in the grooves or depressions 10 of an under box andthe'boxes may he slid one upon size and form to receive ribs or projections another in a direction lengthwise of the box only. When placed in piles upon trucks or other conveyances and the piles are caused to assume inclined positions'the boxes may be so arranged as to dispose the grooves and ribs in a manner to resist sliding movement of the boxes one upon another owing to such inclination. At the same time any of the upper boxes may be slid upon a lower box lengthwise thereof sufficient to uncover and expose the contents of the lower box, and this operation may be efiected as to any of the boxes in a pile of two or more, the second box from the bottom being slid in one direction to uncover; its contents and the third being caused to directly overlie the bottombox and the fourth box to overlie the second box and-so on.

In a satisfactory form of construction the boxes are each made of a width substantially half that of the length, and the-ledges 9 are provided with grooves. ordepressions properly arranged with respect to the ribs 11v on the bottom .of the box to receive such to be piled to overlap each other, or break ribs'111.

ribs.v In the structure-shown in Fig. 1 'two sets -1,213 of cfosswise grooves are provided which-will enable the boxes to "be piled crosswise of each other asshown in Fig. 3. .This crosswise arrangement of the grooves or depressions will enable the boxes joints in anendless variety of ways, whereby. a pile of almostany size and of extreme stabilityjmay be made. Take the showing in Fig. 3, for instance, two more boxes may be placed with their ehds against the bottom boxes shown inpthis figure, and two more boxes placed upon the bottomboxes, disposed lengthwise thereof but across the joint formed by the meeting ends of the boxes, the upper boxes resting with their ends against the sides of the boxes disposed crosswlse of the bottom boxes.

. In Fig. 4 the'ledge is produced by means of a solid piece 15 riveted to the upper'edge of the box and having the groove 16 for the reception" of the ribs 11- hereinabove described, it being noted that the sides of the box are inclined inwardly to locate the groove 16 in vertical alinement with the In the form of device shown in Fig. 5 the ledge is similarly formed as in the structure shown in Fig. 1, it being constituted, however, of a separate piece of metal from that of the side and having a lip 17 overlapping the upper edge of the side and with a step or depression 18 in the place of the groove, this step being located to receive the ribs 11 on the bottomagainst the shoulder 19 formed by the step 18.

In the construction shown-in Fig. 6 a step or depression 20 is provided, which step,

however, opens outward instead of inwardas shown in Fig. 5, and in this case the ledge, as in Fig. 1, is formed from the same piece of metal as the side of the box.

An examination of Figs. 7 and '8 will show the ledges arranged to perform their function, although not extending for the full length of the box, corner pieces 21 and center pieces 22 fulfilling therequirements to every intent and purpose. These corner and center pieces are arranged to re ceive the ribs from the bottom of the boxes or receptacles when the latter are disposed lengthwise or crosswise each upon another. In, this form of the device the grooves 23 in the corner pieces may, if desired, be cut away on opposite sides, as clearly shown in the drawing, itbeing noted, however, that both the lengthwise and crosswise grooves are present to all intents and purposes. It

may also in some instances, be desirable to remove the metal between the two crosswise grooves at the center of the box as clearly shown in this view, in this case, a single w1de crosswise groove 26, of a width equal to the distance between two of the crosswise grooves, as illustrated in Fig. 1, serving the desired end. In this form of struc ture an overhanging part or lip 27 may .be provided to .rest upon the top edges of the box. 1 Y

In the form of box shown in Fig. 9 instead of the lengthwise and crosswise grooves, recesses 28 are disposed both lengthwise and crosswise of the box to receive studs or lugs 29 arranged on the bottom of the box to register with said depressions or recesses.

In the slightly modified form of. device shown in Fig. 10 while the construction is" similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2, &c., the center crosswise grooves 30 are shown as of the extreme w'idth herein above described and the metal is alsorem'oved at the corners of the box as at 31 in a manner to pre-.

serve both the crosswise and lengthwise grooves to all intents and purposes at this point.

The recesses and lugs 28 and 29 are-so arranged that they will interengage'whether the boxes be piled crosswise or lengthwise each of another. i

I claim i 1. A receptacle having its upper edge and bottom provided with projections and recesses positioned to interengage with mating formations on a receptacle of like construction piled either crosswise or lengthwise thereof.

2. A receptacle having its upper edge and bottom provided with projections and recesses positioned to interengage with projections and recesses on a plural number of re- I ceptacles of like construction located in the same horizontal plane, either above or below, and arranged either lengthwise or crosswise thereof.

m A receptacle composed oi thin mater (1 having an upper edge greater in bread ib than the thicknem of the metal composing the receptacle, said upper edge and the bottom having projections and recesses positioned to engage with rojections and recemes on receptacles of li e construction piled either crosswise or lengthwise one upon another.

4. A receptacle having its upper edge and bottom provided with projections and rejections and -recesses on receptacles of like construction pil'ed either crosswise or lengthwise one upon another, said recesses extendthe bottom of the the ing out at the end of the receptacle to permit movement in one dlrection only when so piled.

6. A receptacle having its upper edge and bottom provided with projections and recesses positioned to engage wlt-h pro ections and receses on receptacles of like construction piled in the same position or in a different angular position with respect to a plane pag centrally through said receptacle 1n the direction of its depth.

7. A receptacle composed of thin material having at its upper edge a ledge formed of metal of substantially the same th ckncss, the metal composeingthe ledge being extended downwardly therefrom against the side of thereceptacle and securedthereto, receptacle and ledge- 19. A drag b'ox composed-cf hilu material ha n edge constitutinga'ledge ter in bieadth than the thickness of thmtal composing the box and having a groove extending lengthwise in the upper: surface thereo and a rib formed on thebottom of the box in'a osition to enter a like groove in a box of li e construction.

11. A box composed of thin material and having at its upper edges ledges formed of metal of substantially the same thickness extending substantially parallel with. the bottom of the box and then obliquely downiwgrd arid secured to the side of the box, said ges ves and. ribs lengthwise of mottom of the box in position to enter the grooves in the upper edges of boxes of like construction.

12. A box composed of thin material and having a broad edge forming a ledge composed of. metal of substantially the same thickness and extending substantially parallel with the bottomof the box and then downwardly and secured against the side of the box, said ledges having crosswise grooves and lengthwise grooves and said box being of a length substantially double its width, and ribs located on the bottom of the box and arranged to enter both the lengthwise and crosswise grooves in the upper edge of boxes of like construction.

13. A box composed of thin material and having its upper edges provided with ledges composed of metal of substantially the same thickness and extending substantially. parallel with the bottom of the box and then downwardly and setmred the side of. the box, said ledges having lengthwise grooves and two sets of crewwise grooves, the lengthwise grooves and the groovesof each set being located at a distance apart equal .to the distance between ribs on the bottom of the box,s1id box heingof a length substantially double im width, andribs on the bottom of having an oppositely disposed g l'm'lllg' b0 lug and recess.

8. A receptacle com ofthin material; at its upper edge ledges formed of ha no out substantially the same thicknes extending substantially parallel with the bottom of the receptacle and then downward, a suprt for the lower edge of the do w1 1- wardly nded part to hold 1tr1g1dly in place, said ledges and the bottom of the receptacle having projections and positioned to interen with pro ections and recesses on receptacles of like constrnct1on.

9. A receptacle formed of thin mater al and having an edge to em a ledge w th lhwise and grooves therein. and a projection formed on thebottom of the box and positioned to rest in either of lengthwise or cromwise grooves on "the of boxes of like construction.

bottom of the" l 14." 1| .IJQ'N" material havingits upper edges bent toform a ledge elwiththefl.

extending. w hally e 'x and then downwardly and secured against the side of the box, said ledges having lengthwise ves lo cated a distance apart substantia v equal to I the distance between ribs extend' length-- wise on the bottom of the box, an ribs are cured to the bottom of the box and extending lengthwise thereof.

15. A box of thin material having its upper bent to form a ledge extending substantially parallel with the bottom of firebox and then downwardly- 4 theside oftheboxon the mien thereof, said ledge having lengthwise grooves located adistance apart substantiallyequal to the distance between bottom thereof, and ribs located on the bottom of the box. I

16. A box formed of thin material of a length substantially double its width and with its side edges bent at the top substantially parallel with the bottom to form ledges and then downwardly and secured against the inner surface of the box, said ledges having lengthwise grooves and a set of crosswise grooves, said lengthwise grooves and crosswise grooves being located substantially a distance apart equal to the distance between ribs located on the bottom of the box, and ribs located on the bottom of the box and extending lengthwise thereof. 1

17. A receptaclehaving its upper edge and bottom provided with opposltely disposed projections, and recesses located the same distance apart both crosswise and lengthwise of the receptacle.

ELMER B. STONE.

Witnesses:

J. H. Mums, A. 0. Arms. 

